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Edmonton Oilers name Hitchcock new head coach

The Edmonton Oilers have fired coach Todd McLellan and named Ken Hitchcock as his replacement.

McLellan, 51, compiled a 123-119-24 record with the team, leading the Oilers to just one playoff appearance during his tenure.

Hitchcock, meanwhile, boasts the third-most wins as a coach in NHL history, behind only Joel Quenneville and Scotty Bowman.

He previously coached the Philadelphia Flyers, the Columbus Blue Jackets and the St. Louis Blues, as well as two stints with the Dallas Stars, most recently during the 2017-18 season.

A native of Edmonton, the 66-year-old won the Stanley Cup in 1999 during his first spell with Dallas.

The Oilers - who had lost six of their last seven outings under McLellan to slip to sixth in the Pacific Division - are the second NHL team to make a coaching change this week, after the Blues fired Mike Yeo on Monday.

The #Oilers have named Edmonton native Ken Hitchcock as their new Head Coach after relieving Todd McLellan of his duties earlier this morning. pic.twitter.com/joNXTLMXol